On April 3, 2006, Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council held talks with his Australian counterpart John Howard in the Australian parliament building in Canberra.

Wen said that currently bilateral relations have witnessed all-round development and entered the best period in history. In the political area, bilateral high-level exchanges have been kept closer with political dialogue continuously deepened. In the economic field, bilateral trade volume has increased progressively at an average annual rate of 30% and reached 27.3 billion US dollars last year. In international affairs, both sides have maintained sound consultations and coordination. China makes highly positive comments on Australia's efforts to deem China a cooperative partner but not a threat and appreciates Australia for its position of pursuing the one-China policy and opposing "Taiwan independence". Both countries are important countries in the Asia-Pacific region and there are no fundamental conflicts of interest between them. Both sides share broad common interest in many areas and enjoy wide prospect for cooperation. To develop friendly cooperative relations of long-term stability is the political will of the two governments, as well as the common aspiration of both peoples. It conforms to the fundamental interest of both sides and is conducive to peace and prosperity of Asia-Pacific region.

Howard fully agreed with Wen's comments on bilateral relations. He indicated that bilateral relations have undergone unprecedented positive changes over the past decade and both sides have conducted closer exchanges and cooperation in the areas of economy & trade, energy & mineral resources, culture and education. The relationship with China is one of Australia's most important foreign relationships. Australia very much welcomes China's development and appreciates its positive role in international and regional affairs. China's rapid development is beneficial for the world at large and it is no good to contain China. Australia will continue to abide by the one-China policy and commit to establishing a closer and more effective cooperative partnership with China.

The two leaders agreed to develop comprehensive cooperative relations of mutual benefits in the 21st century and reached consensus within this framework in the following six aspects.

First, to establish the mechanism of regular exchanges of visits and meetings between the leaders of both countries and exchange views in time on major issues in bilateral relations.

Second, to comprehensively push for economic and trade cooperation and accelerate advancing the free trade negotiations in the principle of mutual understanding and accommodation in a bid to make substantive progress within 1 to 2 years and lay a foundation for comprehensively reaching a mutually beneficial agreement in the interest of both sides.

Third, to establish long-term, steady and sound supply-demand relations of energy & mineral resources, as well as a fair and reasonable price mechanism and gradually expand cooperation from trade to upstream exploitation, new energy, renewable energy, clean energy and related technologies.

Fourth, to conduct uranium mine cooperation in the principle of utilizing nuclear energy peacefully.

Fifth, to further strengthen cultural and educational exchanges and build up mutual understanding and friendship.

Sixth, to strengthen dialogue and consultations on major international and regional issues and jointly commit to peace and prosperity of Asia-Pacific region.

Both leaders indicated that the two countries should look at and handle bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, firmly grasp current important opportunities and realize comprehensive cooperative relations of mutual benefits in the 21st century based on the principle of mutual respect, seeking common ground while reserving differences, mutual benefits and common development.

Both sides also exchanged views on the Iranian nuclear issue, bilateral cooperation in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and other matters.

Following the talks, the two leaders jointly attended the signing ceremony of the agreement on cooperation in peaceful use of nuclear energy, the agreement on transfer of nuclear materials, the treaty on criminal judicial assistance and other bilateral cooperation documents and jointly met with journalists and personages from the Australian business community.